She is the 18-year-old sister and de facto mother to two Stockton teenage boys, dual roles created by tragedy 18 months ago. She has long since left her childhood behind, focused instead on molding, and hanging on to, a new family nucleus with her as the matriarch.

"She's an incredible person," said Maryann Santella, Brianne's principal at Stockton High School and a mother figure to the young mother figure. "Two years ago, she was a lost soul. Today, she is so dedicated."

Brianne's world flipped upside down June 14, 2011. Her dad, Norman, the Niebuhr family glue, was killed in a wood-cutting accident ("I was daddy's little girl") and her mother, Tricia, was swallowed up by illegal drugs and walked out on the family ("I was really angry").

It was left to Brianne, 17 at the time, to pick up the pieces. She was determined to keep her younger siblings, 14-year-old Brandon Parker; 16-year-old Tristden Niebuhr; and 8-year-old Destiny Niebuhr, together.

After a few months of family struggle, Destiny ended up living with her grandparents in Stockton. Brianne and the boys can visit any time, and that's where the family will gather Christmas Eve.

Brianne, staying with friends and living on her own, was determined to keep her brothers out of foster care.

Without knowing how to start, she went to court to gain custody of her brothers.

"She carries the burden," Santella said. "She has such strong personal qualities. She's tough inside. I have no idea where she got her strength."

It took all of Brianne's tenacity and perseverance to become the legal guardian. At one point, Child Protective Services came knocking and wanted to take Brandon and Tristden away. "I told them, 'Over my dead body.' "

The problems intensified with the paperwork.

"It was so thick, thicker than any homework I ever saw," Brianne said. "I went to the big courthouse. They made me pay $10 for the packet and I went to class to figure out how to fill it out."

One hour of instruction wasn't enough because when Brianne went back, the court clerk marked up the errors in her petition. Angry, she spent an additional $10 and went home to try again. The forms were unacceptable a second time.

Brianne bought a third packet, this time taking it to school and asking for help. Stockton High is a small charter school - and it is home-away-from-home for many of its students.

Santella didn't hesitate to pitch in. She and Elena Cebreros, the school's student data technician, worked on the court documents together.

"By the grace of God, nothing was wrong the third time," said Brianne, who is 5-foot-3 and 108 pounds of grit. She obtained custody of the boys in July. A case worker has been assigned to the family, and Brianne will periodically have to demonstrate competency.

She has developed into a dedicated student while balancing her legal battles and her new household. Stockton High, an alternative campus with scheduling flexibility, is an ideal setting. Staff members value outside-the-box thinking.

"She became an adult and a caregiver early on," said Allen Emmett, one of her teachers. "She is astronomical and golden and great. She is precious. There's no other word for it."

At first, Emmett didn't know about her court distractions. He just noticed that there would be classroom absences followed by an "amazing" amount of completed school work submitted.